Cambridge Practical Exams Guide: IGCSE Paper 5, Paper 6, and CIE A Level Paper 3 / Paper 5

Q: Which Cambridge practical exam guide should I read first?
A: Start here if you are comparing Cambridge IGCSE Paper 5, IGCSE Paper 6, CIE A Level Paper 3, and CIE A Level Paper 5. Then move to the subject-specific guide for the paper you are actually sitting.

TL;DR
Cambridge science practical assessment splits into four main routes: IGCSE Paper 5 Practical Test, IGCSE Paper 6 Alternative to Practical, CIE A Level Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills, and CIE A Level Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation. Singapore private candidates most often need clarity on whether their centre offers hands-on practicals or the written alternative.

Quick practical route map

• The TL;DR: IGCSE has Paper 5 or Paper 6; A Level uses Paper 3 and Paper 5.
• Choose by level first: Pick the row for your level before worrying about subject details.
• IGCSE or CIE A Level route sections: Open the subject-specific guide for the exact paper you are sitting.

1 Choose by level first

IGCSE candidates usually take either Paper 5 or Paper 6. CIE A Level candidates taking the full A Level route need both the practical Paper 3 route and the written Paper 5 route as part of the overall assessment structure.

2 IGCSE practical routes

Paper 5 Practical Test

Paper 5 is the hands-on lab exam. Read these if your school or centre runs the practical test:

• IGCSE Biology Paper 5 Practical Test guide
• IGCSE Chemistry Paper 5 Practical Test guide
• IGCSE Physics Paper 5 Practical Test guide

Paper 6 Alternative to Practical

Paper 6 is the written alternative. Read these if you are a private candidate or if your centre enters you for ATP:

• IGCSE Biology Paper 6 Alternative to Practical guide
• IGCSE Chemistry Paper 6 Alternative to Practical guide
• IGCSE Physics Paper 6 Alternative to Practical guide

For registration and Singapore-centre logistics, pair these with the IGCSE exam registration and private-candidate guide.

3 CIE A Level practical routes

Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills

Paper 3 is the hands-on practical paper:

• CIE A Level Biology Paper 3 practical guide
• CIE A Level Chemistry Paper 3 practical guide
• CIE A Level Physics Paper 3 practical guide

Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

Paper 5 is the written PAE paper:

• CIE A Level Biology Paper 5 PAE guide
• CIE A Level Chemistry Paper 5 PAE guide
• CIE A Level Physics Paper 5 PAE guide

4 What all routes have in common

Across IGCSE and CIE A Level, practical marks reward the same underlying habits:

• Clear variables and controls
• Correct instrument precision
• Tables with quantities and units
• Graphs with sensible scales
• Conclusions that quote data
• Evaluation that names a specific limitation and a matching improvement

The level changes. The practical reasoning does not.

Concrete example: choosing the right guide

If you are an IGCSE Chemistry private candidate and your centre enters you for the written alternative, start with Paper 6 Alternative to Practical, not Paper 5. You still practise variables, tables, graphs, and evaluation, but you answer them on paper instead of performing the experiment in the lab.

References

1. Cambridge International, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026-2028.
2. Cambridge International, Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus for 2026-2028.
3. Cambridge International, Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 syllabus for 2026-2028.
4. Cambridge International, AS & A Level Biology 9700 syllabus for 2025-2027.
5. Cambridge International, AS & A Level Chemistry 9701 syllabus for 2025-2027.
6. Cambridge International, AS & A Level Physics 9702 syllabus for 2025-2027.